What is a proxy video file?

A proxy is a lower-resolution or lower-bitrate copy of the original camera footage, used for smooth offline editing. The editor works with proxies and then conforms back to the full-resolution master for final output.

Why does the estimated size differ from my actual files?

This tool uses constant bitrate (CBR) arithmetic. Most codecs use variable bitrate (VBR), so actual file sizes vary by scene complexity — typically within 10–20% of the CBR estimate. Use the safety buffer to add headroom.

What bitrate should I use for ProRes Proxy at 1080p?

Apple ProRes Proxy at 1920×1080 29.97 fps targets roughly 45 Mbps. ProRes LT targets ~102 Mbps. These presets are listed in the codec dropdown for convenience.

Does this tool handle multi-camera or multi-angle footage?

Yes — multiply the number of angles by the per-angle duration before entering the total. Or enter total camera hours directly (e.g. 3 cameras × 2 hours = 6 hours total).

What safety buffer percentage should I add?

A 10–15% buffer is typical for container overhead, partial GOPs, and thumbnails. For long-form documentary with many short clips, 20% is safer.

Proxy Video Size Estimator

Calculate how much storage your proxy video files will consume given duration, resolution, and bitrate.

Footage Details

Total Duration

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Proxy Resolution

Codec Preset

Safety Buffer 10%

0%20%40%

Estimated Proxy Storage

Enter your footage details and click Calculate.

Summary

Proxy Video Size Estimator calculates how much disk space your proxy video files will consume before you start ingesting footage. Enter the total duration, choose a resolution and codec preset or enter a custom bitrate, and get an instant size estimate in both MB and GB. A configurable safety buffer accounts for container overhead, partial GOPs, and metadata.

How it works

Enter the total duration of your footage in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Select the proxy resolution (e.g. 1080p, 720p, or a common offline proxy format like ProRes Proxy).
Set the target proxy bitrate in Mbps — or pick a codec preset to auto-fill it.
The tool calculates raw size in MB and GB instantly.
Adjust the safety buffer percentage to add overhead for container overhead and partial GOPs.

Use cases

Plan SSD or NAS capacity before a shoot day.
Compare storage cost of ProRes Proxy vs H.264 proxies at the same resolution.
Budget for cloud storage when syncing proxy media to editors.
Estimate how many clips fit on a 1 TB drive at a given proxy setting.
Decide whether to generate 720p or 1080p proxies given available storage.
Confirm proxy pipeline settings before a long documentary ingest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu